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Top 10 Tips for Getting Crafty With Children and Loving It

by Word of Mom Blogger on January 29, 2015

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Amy Anderson is a 30-something crafty gal who has lived all over the country and finally ended up in Atlanta. She writes for several blogs include Mod Podge Rocks, and she just released her first book, Mod Podge Rocks, in June of this year. In addition to Mod Podge, she loves the color blue, dogs, reading, cold weather, funny movies, road rallies, yogurt, garden gnomes, sock monkeys, running, being outdoors, buttons, snuggling and apparently blogging. Who knew she would love it this much?

Children love being creative! It's so important to foster creativity in kids when they are young. Creative play helps children learn to express themselves, and it's been proven to enhance social development. There is only one rather large drawback to getting crafty with kids — the stress that it puts on parents. Keeping kids interested, making sure the supplies are safe, and cleanup afterward are all concerns, among other things. I'm thrilled to let you know that crafting with children doesn't have to be a major headache! If you are prepared, getting creative with your kids can be a pleasurable experience and everyone can have a great time. Here are my top ten tips for getting crafty with children and loving it.

1.Prepare your area. Crafting in your formal dining area with white carpet probably isn't the way to go — a kitchen with linoleum floors is perfect! Get kids set up in a place where the furniture and surrounding area can easily be cleaned. Newspaper makes a great, budget friendly floor or table covering.

2.Make sure your kids are wearing the right clothes. Murphy's Law says that if you put your child in their (or your) favorite shirt, it's going to get ruined. Have kids wear old t-shirts or dress shirts, or even smocks if you want to get really fancy. I know a lot of moms who put their children in oversized t-shirts and underwear only. Then they place them directly into the bath right after crafting time!

3.Keep cleaning supplies on hand. Don't forget to have the right cleaning supplies available in case someone makes an "oopsie." This includes plenty of paper towels and/or rags. A lot of art supplies are easily cleaned up when they are wet — let them dry and you may have a permanent problem on your hands.

4.Make sure you have the right craft supplies. Look for paints and glues that are washable from children's skin and clothes. Don't allow your little ones to use anything toxic — read the ingredients carefully to make sure that the supplies are completely safe, even if ingested. You never know when an errant finger might go into a mouth. Suggestions: tempera paint, Mod Podge, crayons, and construction paper are all safe kids' craft supplies.

5.Don't have time constraints. Do you like to be told to stop having fun after 15 minutes? Neither do kids. While you can't craft forever, allow children time to be creative and finish their projects. Don't try to squeeze in crafting between appointments. It just becomes stressful and not fun for everyone.

6.Let them have fun. Picasso didn't come out of the womb knowing how to paint, and your kids didn't either. Let them experiment and try new things. Don't worry about what they are doing as much as if they are having a good time.

7.Be patient — don't try to control. This may be the first time that your child has ever used an art supply or tool. If they ask, show they how to use it. Otherwise, let them try first. Encourage and don't take over. Mixing blue glitter and black paint might be wrong in the adult world, but it's okay for kids.

8.Be present — no electronics. Your iPhone is important, but your children are more important. Set the phone aside for an hour or two so that you can fully engage with the kids. It will be a special time for you and them, and it's easier to interact if you aren't trying to text and answer e-mails while you are crafting.

9.Praise your child. Even if that big black blob that your child says is Uncle Joe looks nothing like a human, tell him or her that they did a great job. We all like praise — that doesn't change even when you are an adult. Give copious amounts of it to children.

10.Prepare your children for the end. Kids love creating so much that they probably aren't going to want to stop. When the end gets near, give them a warning like "15 minutes until cleanup time." Let them know at regular intervals when the fun is going to end — then they won't be upset that you sprung it on them.

Crafting with kids is such a joy. Embrace it, enjoy it and file it in the memory banks as a special time. And repeat as often as possible!

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